The Senate voted almost unanimously to remove the AI provision from the budget bill, with only one dissenting vote. Cruz supported the amendment, arguing that it was backed by Trump and aimed to protect children and creative artists, although he noted outside interests opposed it. Blackburn expressed frustration over the inability to reach a compromise that safeguarded state interests. Cantwell pointed out bipartisan opposition to the proposal, while Markey criticized it as harmful and misleading, highlighting its potential implications for state authority and protections against Big Tech.
Cruz acknowledged that 'many of my colleagues would prefer not to vote on this matter,' emphasizing that the five-year moratorium had support from President Trump and "protected kids and protected the rights of creative artists, but outside interests opposed that deal."
Blackburn stated, 'we weren't able to come to a compromise that would protect our governors, our state legislators, our attorney generals and, of course, House members who have expressed concern over this language... what we know is this-this body has proven that they cannot legislate on emerging technology.'
Cantwell highlighted that many state government officials from both major parties opposed the Cruz plan, stating, 'Despite several revisions by its author and misleading assurances about its true impact, state officials from across the country... actively protested against the harmful proposal.'
Markey criticized the compromise by saying, 'the Blackburn-Cruz so-called compromise is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Despite Republican efforts to hide the true impact of the AI moratorium, the language still allows the Trump administration to use federal broadband funding as a weapon against the states.'
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